The Flywheel

Next meeting: December 23rd

The Origins of Christmas

The elusive Father Nick Rena from Salesian HS visits our pre-Christmas meeting to describe the historic origins of many Christmas traditions.

Meeting of Friday, December 16th

Welcome, Invocation, Thought for the Day

Prez. EJ was minding the store so PP Alan Baer rang
the bell. That ring was more than a little late given
our 12:15 start but no one seemed to mind as everyone
was chattering, introducing their several guests and
celebrating the Season. Pam Jones led
the Pledge and Stony Stonework asked for a moment of
silence for Peace, Freedom and Justice around the world.
I am paraphrasing Henry Kelman’s Thought
for the Day to wit. Now we know how much it costs to
get the Republicans in Washington to get the government
moving again, one oil pipeline from Canada to Texas.

Visiting Rotarians

No visiting Rotarians, Well actually ADG Elect
Fred Collingnon showed up after Santa
Claus made his exit.

Rotarians with Guests

This is going to be tough as the chaos and conviviality
around the large pile of donated toys made it difficult
to get all visitors names, apologies in advance:Josh Surowitz brought his cousin David
Keystone who is considering joining the club.
Say hello to him next time you see him. Joan
Davis brought Barbara McCullough from
Brighter Beginnings. Pam Jones brought Neville
Barns. Enos Johnson brought John
Rowe and Rob Woods. Don
Lau brought Lynn Martin from
the Early Childhood Mental Health Program. Darlene
Alameda, technical still Josh Surowitz’ guest
brought her guest Emma, her first grandchild.

Sunshine Report

Tom Waller visited Don and
Betty Hardison on his way to the meeting.
They are doing OK, Betty recovering from her recent
fall. David A Brown visited John
Nicol at work and encouraged him to come to
Rotary but John said he doesn’t have enough energy
to do both work and Rotary.

Announcements

Sid Chauvin announced the upcoming Reno
Train Trip being sponsored by the Orinda
club. He said ,“It won’t be the same” but
it is the same train trip, ending at Johnnie Ascuaga’s
Nugget in Sparks. Call Sid for details or come to
the next meeting. But first, download
the information sheet and ticket purchase form, which includes everything
Sid will tell you—but in black and white.

Time to get your year-end Rotary Foundation donations
in so you can recognize them on your 2011 tax returns.

Mark your calendars for the Annual Crab Feed
at Salesian HS January 28th. This is the
famous Richmond Rotary ‘we don’t run
out of crab’ Crab Feed so get your tickets
and tables early at an expected $40 a pop. Final
price to be set by the market.

Recognitions

Speaking of Sid ‘CA’ Chauvin,
Don Lau started extemporaneous recognitions, asking him, ‘What’s
happening?’ Sid said he had his 73rd birthday on
December 2nd and his 34th wedding anniversary to Zelpha on
the 11th but that it really should be 41st anniversary
counting time served.
Don then asked Josh Genser if that was
really him in a ‘discussion’ with Andres
Soto on Fox News? Josh said it was, and in order
to drama-it-up it took two hours to shoot 2 minutes
of TV time. Josh didn’t or wouldn’t say
what the ‘discussion’ was
about.

Happy and Sad Dollars

Dandy Don then launched Happy & Sad $$. David A. Brown had very Happy $$ because
his sister Suzy was released from the hospital following
successful cancer treatment and has already gone on two,
two mile walks. Thanks be to God.Josh Surowitz had Happy $$ for another
great Rotary Happy Hour at the Hotel Mac. Bring your
friends and Rotary interested colleagues to the next
one on the 2nd Wednesday of January.Michelle Itagaki had Happy $$ for the
birth of her first grandson Julian at 5 lbs 3 oz. Fantastic!Josh Genser had Sad/Happy $$ for his
Mom. Sad she had a heart attack but Happy he brought
her home after recovering at Kaiser SF. Josh also had
a very funny story about having to get panties for his
mom, but, ‘You had to have been there…”Joan Davis had Happy $$ that her seven
siblings are all at her home for the Holidays proving
that they CAN do it, traveling from the far corners of
the Earth.Jim Young had Happy $$ to be back in
California after being a month in Wilmington DE helping
his daughter’s family prepare for the move to Singapore
(successfully completed). Since he was there long enough
to register to vote, he will now be voting Democratic
on the Right Coast as well as the Left Coast.Herb Cole had Happy $$ as he will soon
be completing his four year old Holiday Auction commitment taking Josh
G. fishing in the Delta.

Norm's Nonsense

-If there had been three wise women who went to Bethlehem,
they would have asked for directions, arrived on time,
helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, made a meal,
and brought some practical gifts.

Q: Why was Jesus born in a manger?
A:
Because Mary belonged
to an HMO.

PROGRAM

The program was a Santa ‘flyby’ as well
as bringing a very large pile of new toys for the Richmond & El
Cerrito Police and Firefighters Toy Drive. We did not
get an actual toy count but they were loaded on the fire
truck in several large bags. Like last year the fire
truck had to be quickly loaded as ‘duty called’.

Rob Woods explained that the two city effort serves
local kids through the good offices of our own Don Lau
at the Coronado YMCA (gifting to take place on Thursday
December 22nd). The effort serves over 2,000 families
around the Bay and besides the toys includes the delivery
of needed Holiday food. Officer Woods said deliveries
are made to Marin (yes Marin), Oakland, Millbrae, Hayward,
etc., anyplace they are needed as long as they have toys.
He also thanked Rotary for its annual contribution.

The program ended a little early with many comments
that it was one of the best ‘non-programs’ we’ve
had in a long time and that talking and greeting fellow
Rotarians is one of the best things you can do at a meeting.

Jim Young in his capacity as Program Chair reminded
everyone that ‘it ain’t over yet’ as
the club is meeting on the 23rd—Father Nick and
the Origins of Xmas Traditions; and the 30th— Open
Mic (gulp).

-Rotating Editor, Jim Young

Rotary Calendar

We've installed a new calendar on our website. To
see it, use the link in the upper navigation bar. Or
if that's too far too travel, click
here.

Upcoming Programs

December 30
Club dark. Best wishes for the holidays to all!

January 6
The Counsel General from the B in BRIC (Brazil, Russia,
India & China)
visits to discuss Brazil's economy
and culture.

Have a suggestion for a
speaker? Please pass along the name and contact
information to Jim Young.